Trent Alexander‑Arnold has made peace with the mixed reception he expects when Real Madrid visit Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday.

After 354 appearances, 92 assists and eight trophies for Liverpool, including the club’s first two Premier League titles, Alexander‑Arnold left Merseyside when his contract expired in June. “I need a change,” he explained in May once it had been announced that he would not sign an extension to a contract which expired in June, “a new challenge for me as a player and as a person.”

The decision provoked a strong reaction. Posters appeared across Merseyside questioning his loyalty, and on his first appearance for Liverpool after announcing his departure he was booed by large sections of Anfield. Many fans were particularly unhappy that he ran down his contract before joining Real Madrid, a club some Liverpool supporters view as a European rival.

Even as current boss Arne Slot declined to single out supporters, the crowd’s response was criticised by several Liverpool players and Jürgen Klopp. Liverpool later gave Alexander‑Arnold a warm send‑off as they celebrated the top‑flight title in May.

Alexander‑Arnold has been candid about his feelings ahead of the return. “Whatever way I’m received, is the decision of the fans,” he told Amazon Prime Video. “I’ll always love the club, I’ll always be a fan of the club. I’ll always be thankful for the opportunities and the things that we achieved together… they’ll live with me forever. No matter what, my feeling won’t change towards Liverpool. I’ve got memories there that will last me a lifetime.”

His first months in Madrid were disrupted by injury but he is back in contention for the group‑stage fixture. He has not featured since damaging his hamstring on Sept. 16 and is unlikely to start, but could be introduced from the bench. If he does score, it would be only the third Champions League goal of his career; “If I was to score, then no I wouldn’t celebrate to be honest,” he revealed.

Reflecting on the fixture draw, he conceded: “When I made the decision to move on, it was probably destined that at some point being here I’d play against Liverpool,” Alexander‑Arnold wryly conceded. He also reached out to a number of his former teammates after the August announcement of the tie.

The long-standing rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United has spilled into the public sphere with a forthright exchange between Virgil van Dijk and Wayne Rooney. The disagreement began after an underwhelming 3–2 defeat to Brentford, when voices inside Liverpool’s squad and external pundits criticised the champions.

Rooney, an ex-Everton academy graduate and former England captain, questioned the influence of Liverpool’s senior stars on and off the pitch. “They’ve signed new deals but I don’t think they’ve really led that team this season,” Rooney claimed. “I think body language tells you a lot, and I think we’re seeing slightly different body language from the two of them. They are the top two players in that team and if their body language is not right, that affects everyone else.

“I might be wrong on this, but if I was a Liverpool fan or the manager, that would be a big concern for me.”

Van Dijk has been publicly stung by those remarks. After watching from the stands as Liverpool lost their fifth successive domestic fixture against Crystal Palace last Wednesday, he had little opportunity to respond immediately. A win over Aston Villa on Saturday provided a platform for a fuller reply.

Having initially called for calm and pushing back against what he described as “ridiculous takes,” Van Dijk singled out Rooney by name. “I didn’t hear him last year,” the Premier League champion snapped. “No, it doesn’t hurt me to be honest. Just to come back to this particular player, obviously a legend, a big player of the game who inspired so many, I can say only positive things, but I feel that comment is just… I would say it’s a bit of a lazy criticism.

“That’s my personal opinion. It’s easy to blame the older players but he knows obviously as well as everyone else we do it together trying to help each and every one of us to try to get out of this and, like I said as well, last year when things go well you don’t hear that at all.”

Van Dijk also added: “There’s no hard feelings.”

Rooney remained firm. “My job now as a pundit is to give my opinions on what I feel,” he told his own podcast from a dimly lit trophy room. “I’m sure if you ask him or Arne Slot, he probably hasn’t been as good as he has been over the last few years. That was my comment which I stick by.”

Just 10 games into the new campaign, Liverpool find themselves short of the standards set for the club. The Reds had lost four times in the Premier League and suffered a further three defeats across cup competitions before Saturday.

Saturday’s 2–0 win over Aston Villa brought an end to a four-game losing streak in England’s top flight, with Salah on the scoresheet to record his 250th goal in a Liverpool shirt. The result offered a break in a difficult run and a platform as the club heads into an intense week of fixtures.

Asked after the game whether he was happy with his season, Salah simply replied: “No, but I know football. I have played football for many years.

“I said at the beginning it is a very tricky season for us, we have a few new players, very good signings, but they need time to adapt to the team and we lost a few good players as well.

“We just need time to adapt and know each other’s games and we will be fine.”

Salah acknowledged the period of inconsistency that has prevented Liverpool from building momentum. The victory over Aston Villa, and his milestone strike, were framed in that context as important steps rather than solutions.

“It was very important, we have had a few losses in the Premier League and the Champions League, but I am glad we started coming back now and it is a good result before some very important games against Madrid and City,” Salah reflected.

“It was a very important win for us today.”

The forward’s comments underline a view that adaptation and time are required after turnover in personnel. For now, Liverpool will hope the win and Salah’s 250th goal provide a foundation to regain consistency in both domestic and European competition.